"Singapore, so Chinese and so British at the same time; Bali, a real gem": Édouard George, Phoenix Voyages Group

Phoenix Voyages was founded in Vietnam. Why organise holidays to Singapore and Bali?

Édouard George - Phoenix Voyages was born 15 years ago in Vietnam, and since then we have grown and developed other destinations. This has been achieved through the creation of subsidiaries or strategic partnerships with existing agencies that we integrate into the Phoenix network. As a result, we can now offer our customers around ten destinations in Asia. Bali and Indonesia are our latest additions, and Singapore remains a must for many customers. Our strengthened presence positions us as a privileged partner. We are also investing heavily in research and training. This gives our customers confidence and gives us a certain expertise.

In your opinion, what is the main advantage of a combined Singapore/Bali holiday?

E. G. - Probably the contrast between the two destinations. As Singapore is also a hub, I think it's natural to take advantage of the opportunity to discover this City-State, which is so Chinese and so British at the same time. As for Bali, it's a real gem, with an extremely welcoming population and a rich culture and range of services. You can have fun in the evening, take advantage of the various maritime activities, climb a volcano and a thousand other things... What's more, it's still a very affordable destination.

What's special about your incentive trips?

E. G. - We have three main departments within the company. Individuals represent 40 % of our business, groups 20 % and incentives 40 %. We're still on a human scale and we like a job well done: making a success of an incentive and seeing our customers happy is our greatest satisfaction. Our presence on the ground and our knowledge of the destinations are still an asset for us, and our entire team gives its all for its customers.

Is the French market still your priority?

E. G. - Yes, it's a traditional market for us since the company was founded, and it still accounts for 30 % of our sales!

Report: Cécile Balavoine - Photos: Alain Parinet